(a) A sponsoring local educational agency shall annually transfer to each of its charter schools funding in lieu of property taxes equal to the lesser of the following two amounts:

(1) The average amount of property taxes per unit of average daily attendance, including average daily attendance attributable to charter schools, received by the local educational agency, multiplied by the charter school’s average daily attendance.

(2) The local control funding formula grant funding computed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02, per unit of average daily attendance, multiplied by the charter school’s average daily attendance in each of the four corresponding grade level ranges: kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3; grades 4, 5, and 6; grades 7 and 8; and grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), until the Superintendent determines that a charter school is funded pursuant to Section 42238.02, the Superintendent shall apportion funding per unit of average daily attendance pursuant to this article. The base grant for purposes of paragraph (2) shall be the lesser of the amount calculated pursuant to paragraph (2) or the sum of the entitlements for the charter school in the specified fiscal year as computed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a), and paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), of Section 42238.03, multiplied by the ratio of local control funding formula base grant funding computed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02 to the local control funding formula amount for the fiscal year computed pursuant to Section 42238.02.

(4) If the sum of the funding transferred pursuant to this subdivision and the funding calculated pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 42238.03 exceeds the sum of the amounts calculated pursuant to subdivisions (e), (f), and (i) of Section 42238.02, the excess funding shall be used to offset funding calculated pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 42238.03.

(b) The sponsoring local educational agency shall transfer funding in lieu of property taxes to the charter school in monthly installments, by no later than the 15th of each month.

(1) For the months of August to February, inclusive, a charter school’s funding in lieu of property taxes shall be computed based on the amount of property taxes received by the sponsoring local educational agency during the preceding fiscal year, as reported to the Superintendent for purposes of the second principal apportionment. A sponsoring local educational agency shall transfer to the charter school the charter school’s estimated annual entitlement to funding in lieu of property taxes as follows:

(A) Six percent in August.

(B) Twelve percent in September.

(C) Eight percent each month in October, November, December, January, and February.

(2) For the months of March to June, inclusive, a charter school’s funding in lieu of property taxes shall be computed based on the amount of property taxes estimated to be received by the sponsoring local educational agency during the fiscal year, as reported to the Superintendent for purposes of the first principal apportionment. A sponsoring local educational agency shall transfer to each of its charter schools an amount equal to one-sixth of the difference between the school’s estimated annual entitlement to funding in lieu of property taxes and the amounts provided pursuant to paragraph (1). An additional one-sixth of this difference shall be included in the amount transferred in the month of March.

(3) For the month of July, a charter school’s funding in lieu of property taxes shall be computed based on the amount of property taxes estimated to be received by the sponsoring local educational agency during the prior fiscal year, as reported to the Superintendent for purposes of the second principal apportionment. A sponsoring local educational agency shall transfer to each of its charter schools an amount equal to the remaining difference between the school’s estimated annual entitlement to funding in lieu of property taxes and the amounts provided pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).

(4) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 14002, final adjustments to the amount of funding in lieu of property taxes allocated to a charter school shall be made in June, in conjunction with the third recertification of annual apportionments to schools.

(5) Subdivision (a) and paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, do not apply for pupils who reside in, and are otherwise eligible to attend a school in, a basic aid school district, but who attend a charter school in a nonbasic aid school district. With regard to these pupils, the sponsoring basic aid school district shall transfer to the charter school an amount of funds equivalent to the local control funding formula grant pursuant to Section 42238.02, as implemented by Section 42238.03, earned through average daily attendance by the charter school for each pupil’s attendance, not to exceed the average property tax share per unit of average daily attendance for pupils residing and attending in the basic aid school district. The transfer of funds shall be made in not fewer than two installments at the request of the charter school, the first occurring not later than February 1 and the second not later than June 1 of each school year. Payments shall reflect the average daily attendance certified for the time periods of the first and second principal apportionments, respectively. The Superintendent may not apportion any funds for the attendance of pupils described in this subdivision unless the amount transferred by the basic aid school district is less than the local control funding formula grant pursuant to Section 42238.02, as implemented by Section 42238.03, earned by the charter school, in which event the Superintendent shall apportion the difference to the charter school from state funds.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 24, Sec. 50. (SB 98) Effective June 29, 2020.)